|
|
Shell jewelry necklace
I was extremely distressed to read in the February issue of the Philippine Shell News the article "Three Dozen Murex
insularum." To quote from the article, "...were all live taken during Xmas week at Makua in 45 feet of water." It seemed to
me that the author only added insult to injury when he returned to the same spot within a week, found "Number 37" and
collected that.
One need only do some simple calculations of the acreage of reef area around the coasts of the Philippine Islands to compute
the number of places one might find M. insularum. If all 200 active Malacological Society members in Philippines were to go
to those areas and each were to collect 37 specimens, we should then have in our possession just about every single specimen
of M. insularum in the State. Is that what we really want to do?
Let me start a controversy -- which I hope will stimulate others to contribute their comments. Would the author and collector
of the 37 Murex insularum go up the slopes of Mauna Loa and shoot 37 of what is now known as a "vanishing species," the nene
goose? Perhaps the question is better put another way: would he if he could? In other words: Must we protect all our plant
and animal life by Federal law?
Shell collecting has a long history, as does collecting of birds eggs and butterflies. Bird collecting and butterfly
collecting went "out" by the beginning of the twentieth century. I submit that the shell collector is an anachronism in the
middle of the twentieth century: he is sixty years behind the times. The reason? We cannot afford to exploit our marine
resources as we have those on land.
To date, little more than what has been discussed, has been completed to bring this rare stromb into reality. Not all dives
are exclusively for the strombs and much time is consumed when searching in the sand. A number of methods remain to be tried
but, undoubtedly the coming months will allow completion of these plans, maybe even to success.
A number of interesting things occurred on these dives and frequently other shells were encountered. Those which were needed
were collected, the others were just observed and then passed over. An abundance of juvenile Conus species provided much
delight, the most treasured of which is a tiny Conus imperialis three-eighths of an inch long! One deep station produced a
huge colony of Mitra newcombii. Population density was at least twenty per square foot over an area several hundred feet in
length. Several large, black Oliva sandwicensis were the reward one windy and rough day. Humor was not lacking either, with
repeated contacts with fishes and other life. The startled sand-dwelling fishes were the funniest, one of which continued to
"bury" himself in his favorite spot in spite of the fact that every speck of sand had been swept away by fanning! Perhaps
continued searching will produce the desirable Strombus hawaiensis, perhaps not. This is one of the intrigues of the shelling
hobby. One thing is certain, however. This sheller will continue to hunt as long as he is able. Someday a sequel to this
article may be required; the one in which the discovery of several strombs will be reported!
shell jewelry necklace,clams raw,shell fashion accessories,spondylus tsenensis,casis bibex,murex treremis,silver mouth,jewelry shell,shells,shell jewelry necklace
Shell jewelry necklace paua coco shell lambis crocata rose clam shell-madebelts conus virgo cowrie shellcraft cowrie painted components part conus omaria clam blacklip heishe shellcrafts shells necklace spondylus tsenensis shellcraft.
shell jewelry necklace
Shell
Bracelets
|
